Wings of Dark Snow

Chapter Fifteen: Flashback

From the First-Person Perspective (From Aison Drakon's Perspective)

After the Spirit Master emerged from the snow and spat blood, he immediately activated his seventh spirit ability, then formed a three-meter-long ice sword before charging at me with a battle cry.

Without hesitation, I decided to face him head-on, without reinforcing my scales with spirit power, only protecting my internal organs. It was still… interesting to test my body after taking a direct hit. And so, as he rushed in to attack, within two seconds, we collided.

Alright, the initial test was passed. Even though I was pushed back ten meters, I was completely satisfied. My defense withstood the full strike of a Rank-90 Battle Spirit Master. Though the impact left grooves a few centimeters deep on my scales, I had only recently broken through to the ten-thousand-year level, so I still had a lot of room to grow.

Judging by the fact that he paused, it seemed he was surprised by the outcome, but he quickly regained his composure. This time, he activated his second, third, and fifth spirit rings, causing his already massive sword to expand to twenty meters in length.

Now he could fight from twenty meters away, and after all, a strike like that would likely penetrate my scales if I didn't reinforce them with spirit power.

After the second clash, I was pushed back twenty meters, but this time, only minor scars remained on my scales. However, the Spirit Master showed no concern about that and instead rushed straight toward the smallest group of scorpions in the area.

I immediately realized his intentions and began activating my abilities again, using my control over the ice element. In an instant, massive ice walls, several meters wide and twenty meters high, began rising in front of him. He broke through the first six effortlessly, but by the ninth, he had lost his momentum and was forced to stop.

I seized the opportunity and attacked him, striking his side with my claw and sending him flying ten meters away. Yet, even as I tested my increasing strength, my thirst for battle only grew stronger.

The Spirit Master realized that getting rid of me wouldn't be easy, so he let out a battle cry before activating his eighth spirit ability, putting me on high alert. I immediately reinforced my defenses to the maximum.

The last time he attacked me with his battle spirit, he ran away after realizing he couldn't break through my defenses. So this was the first time he used his eighth spirit ability against me, especially as a Spirit Master on the verge of earning a battle title.

Suddenly, I felt something strange—I lost control of my movements, though I remained fully conscious. A second later, everything returned to normal… except the Spirit Master was gone. But his footprints were clearly visible in the area.

It was a time-freezing technique, temporarily immobilizing the opponent, but it consumed an enormous amount of energy. So, in his current state, he couldn't even display 50% of its original power.

He went in that direction! I was about to rush after him when I suddenly heard a young girl's voice behind me, followed by a mental message that made me turn around instantly.

But after breaking through the ten-thousand-year rank, it had become incredibly difficult for anyone to approach me unnoticed, let alone from behind.

Before my eyes stood a small Ice Scorpion compared to me. However, considering what she had just said… and the decapitated corpse of the Spirit Master lying on the island, there was no question about who was standing behind me.

"Greetings to the Ice Empress," I said with restraint. After all, she has surpassed two hundred thousand years, and it would be inappropriate not to show some respect. Moreover, I am still no match for her.

As the rest of the Ice Scorpions launched their attack and ran past us, the Ice Empress continued to stare at me in silence, making me feel somewhat tense.

The Ice Empress said with slight astonishment, "You are very talented for your level."

Since she could not determine my true age, she had likely based her judgment solely on my combat strength as a ten-thousand-year-old spirit beast.

Selina Drakon said, "He is growing very fast, and he no longer has any opponents in our territory except for me."

A young feminine voice came from the sky, resembling a beautiful melody, if not for the rumbling undertones seeping between the words. A second later, my mother appeared with a few small scratches on her scales. Without even looking, she tossed a bloodstained bracelet in my direction.

Over the past years, many spirit masters and elemental masters have come to our lands. Those weaker than me, I handled myself. As for the rest, my mother took care of them. Of course, she had also noticed my interest in collecting spatial spirit tools from them.

Recognizing my interest, my mother began keeping spirit tools for me. During this time, I have gathered more than 50 of them.

Of course, this number might seem large, but in total, it amounts to no more than 700 cubic meters of space. It only seems like a lot at first glance, as over 100 cubic meters are occupied by the corpses of seven beasts I keep as snacks, not to mention a pile of various medicinal herbs I don't know how to use, maps, books, and gold coins. So, I have less than half of the space left empty.

The Green Star Ice Scorpion Empress said, "Selina Drakon, you have finally broken through. Congratulations."

The Ice Empress started a conversation with my mother, while I turned to examine the corpse of the defeated titled spirit master. At this moment, I couldn't intervene in their conversation, nor was I particularly interested.

From my mother's stories, I learned that she knows the Ice Empress—not as a friend, of course, but what could be considered a form of mutual understanding. So, they likely have additional topics to discuss.

As I made my way toward the second titled spirit master's corpse, I began inspecting and cleaning the spatial spirit tools of the first one. It turned out to have a capacity of 30 cubic meters, along with some gold coins, herbs, and a quantity of clothing and food.

While most of it was of little importance to me, the medicinal herbs caught my interest, as they could be used by spirit beasts.

At the end of the inspection, I found several books, and judging by the illustrations of herbs and spirit beasts within them, they might prove useful.

As for the second titled spirit master, he was of greater value to me, as his storage contained only medicinal herbs, regional maps, and his spirit tool, which was a ring with a capacity of 25 cubic meters.

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I apologize for the delay.

I am a high school student, and right now, it's exam time, so it's difficult for me to write.

Number of words in this chapter (1,124 words)

Writing is tiring and difficult.

Reading is easy and enjoyable.

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